Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, will host defence chiefs from 14 African countries, commanders of peace-support missions and representatives of regional political and economic organisations at an inaugural conference on Military Operations Other Than War.
The four-day conference will take place at Speke Resort Munyonyo from October 5 to 8.
Military Operations Other Than War involve the deployment of armed forces for duties beyond conventional warfare, including peace-support missions, counterterrorism, disaster response, border protection and assistance to civilian authorities.
The conference will examine transnational threats, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial systems and the protection of critical infrastructure.
Participants will also discuss maritime and border security, climate change, disease outbreaks, disaster management, natural-resource management and military support to civilian authorities.
Gender inclusion, external influence and legal and ethical accountability in military operations are also on the agenda.
Countries that had confirmed their participation included Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
The African Union, East African Community, Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the Economic Community of West African States Commission are also expected to be represented.
Officials from the Eastern Africa Standby Force and the North African Regional Capability will attend alongside commanders of peace-support missions operating in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Abyei and South Sudan.
The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces said Africa’s emerging security challenges could not be addressed through military force alone.
“Africa’s emerging security threats cannot be mitigated solely through military force, but the employment of the whole of society and government approach,” the statement said.
Uganda will use the conference to promote an African-led approach focused on prevention, regional cooperation and human security.
The country is expected to draw on its experience in peace-support operations, counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, border security, disaster response and cooperation between military and civilian authorities.
Rwanda and Uganda are active members of the Eastern Africa Standby Force, which maintains military, police and civilian components for deployment during regional crises, peace-support operations and humanitarian emergencies.
Uganda formally invited Eastern Africa Standby Force Director Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga to attend the meeting in August.
Gen Kainerugaba held a final planning meeting with the conference’s strategic and technical committees at the Special Forces Command headquarters in Entebbe ahead of the gathering.
Elie GATETE
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